LRA demand removal from list of terrorist groups

Daily Monitor News | April 27, 2007

THE South Sudan mediated peace talks between the government of Uganda and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army resumed yesterday in Juba , after a four-month lull.

South Sudan Vice-President Salva Kiir opened the talks, with a call to both parties to iron out their differences. The rebels, however, have lodged a request for the LRA to be struck off the list of international terrorist organisations.

The rebels, according to David Nyekorach Matsanga tabled the request during a one and a half hour closed door meeting with 11 diplomats accredited to Uganda , who flew to Juba to witness the resumption of talks.

“What we told them (the diplomats) is that the LRA should be removed from the list of international terrorists so that all our supporters can travel freely upto here and participate in the negotiations,” Mr Matsanga, who is the LRA leader’s special appointee to handle the International Criminal Court indictment against the top leadership, said.

Mr Matsanga, a one time spokesman for the LRA said, “People like Olara Otunnu (former UN special envoy on children in armed conflict) want to come to participate in this peace process but they fear to be labeled terrorists”.

But he said the removal of the LRA from the list of international terrorist organisations alongside al-qaeda, is not a condition for negotiations but it should be a sign of good will on the side of the government of Uganda and the international community.

Uganda ’s delegation was led by Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, deputised by the State Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Okello Oryem. The delegation had two more new faces including the spokesman for the disbanded Special Revenue Protection Services, Barigye-Bahoku as its publicist.

But the LRA delegation led by Martin Ojul, attracted attention. All the 20 plus delegates wore expensive suits and perfumes while the Rugunda team was in casual jackets without neckties.

Mr Ojul at the talks also attended by UN special envoy Joachim Chissano warned that any attempts to treat LRA as a non-political group or whose concerns should not be taken seriously in the next phase of the talks will lead to disastrous repercussions. He said the LRA should be treated the same way the government team is treated.

Mr Ojul said before the formal talks can begin, the LRA demand a formal communication on the promises the parties, especially the government and the mediator made during the time the talks were in recess.

“We are sure if your excellencies reacted the same way you have done, the peace talks should not have stalled,” Mr Ojul said.

Dr Rugunda did not make any direct reaction to the LRA demands but said the government was committed to the peace talks.

“We are here to make a framework for peace not a constitution for Uganda ,” Dr Rugunda said. “We are also here to work out a peace agreement so that our brothers and sisters in the LRA who are in Ri-kwangba, Owiny-Ki-Bul or elsewhere will be able to come back home with their heads high,” he added.

Dr Machar said UN has agreed to pay allowances to the LRA delegation. Each delegate is to get $70 per day and $50 for communication.